Kaira Stirling is encountered by Commander Shepard near the entrance to Port Hanshan, as part of a security detail with Captain Maeko Matsuo. She is unimpressed by Shepard's arrival, and does not believe that the Commander is a humanSpectre. She is even suspicious of Shepard's Alliance Navy rank, saying it is at least two weeks until the next naval patrol is due. She demands the Commander and the squad turn over their weapons upon their arrival at Port Hanshan: the confrontation becomes hostile until Gianna Parasini manages to defuse it by confirming Shepard's Spectre status. Nevertheless, Stirling remains aggressive and rude towards Shepard.

If Shepard aids Lorik Qui'in in retrieving corruption evidence against Administrator Anoleis, Stirling reappears at the Synthetic Insights office after Shepard has been forced to kill several corrupt Port Hanshan guards. Stirling proclaims that regardless of the alleged corruption, and Spectre or not, Shepard is a cop killer. The squad can offer an opinion on Stirling's shaky moral high ground before the conversation turns to combat and Stirling is killed.

As an offensive biotic, Stirling is the high-priority target in her initial 3-man squad. She usually attempts to unleash a talent at the end of your confrontational dialogue, so beat her to the punch and dispose of her first.

As she is at the center of her team, any area-effect talent or weapon modded with the right upgrades aimed at her can hit all three of them at once.

If available, use Neural Shock or Throw against Kaira as soon as the fight starts. This will immobilize her before she can get off a single attack, making the fight considerably easier.